Part 6
THE THIRD
ANGEL'S MESSAGE
Rev. 14:9
'
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
July
9
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand."
The test of the seventh-day Sabbath, which is a part of the
third angel's message, was carried to the world by many of
those who preached the first two messages of Rev. 14:6, 7.
Among these were Joseph Bates and James and Ellen White,
who in the mid-1840's began to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.
In the long years that have followed, Sabbath-keeping Advent-
ists have been carrying this great truth to the world. But the
time comes for it to be given with greatest power when the
attention of the whole world is focused upon this issue. See
The Great Controversy,.
pages 604-606. This is still unfulfilled
prophecy, and Adventists clearly teach that no one yet has
received the "mark of the beast" mentioned in this prophecy.
But the time is soon coming when "the Sabbath will be the
great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially con-
troverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon
men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those
who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the ob-
servance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the
state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal
of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keep-
ing of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evi-
dence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting
the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of
the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine
authority, receive the seal of God."—The
Great Controversy,
page 605.
"Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their fore-
heads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a set-
tling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they
cannot be moved—just as soon as God's people are sealed and
prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun
already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, . . .
that we may know what is coming."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 4, p. 1161.
What will bring about a change in the experience of
the Laodicean church that will enable the members fully
to reflect Christ's character to the world?
The Message of Missions
LESSON 2
"There is to be a mark placed upon
God's people, and that mark is the
keeping of His holy Sabbath."
"Individually we need to inquire, In
observing a day of rest, have I drawn
my faith from the Scriptures, or from
a spurious representation of truth? Ev-
ery soul who fastens himself to the
divine, everlasting covenant, made and
presented to us as a sign and mark of
God's government, fastens himself to
the golden chain of obedience, every
link of which is a promise. He shows
that he regards God's Word as above
the word of man, God's love as pref-
erable to the love of man."—Ellen G.
White Comments, "SDA Bible Commen-
tary," Vol. 7, p. 981.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 6, p. 90; "The Great Controversy,"
pages 611, 612.
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